Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-01-15
Washington Letter.


was in session only three days and
the House four. Besides good deal
of other private legislation the Senate
pensioned the widow of General Lo-
gan at $4,000 a year, secretly discuss
ed the Mexican Reciprocity treaty,
and debated the important pending
bill on Interstate Commerce. The
House passed three of the regular APP
preparation bills, several dozen pri-
vate pension bins, and discussed bills
on the Public Buildings and Naval
Reorganization. But what should be
emphasized in the work of a Demo
cratic House is the passage, without
opposition, and without any provis-
ion for Confederate soldiers, of a pen
sion bill for the current year .appro-
priating over $76,OOO,OOO.
This amount is nearly as much as
were the entire expenses of the Gov
eminent before the war, and it ought
to put the Republican ranters of the
last Presidential campaign to the
blush, if anything could. Democrat
ic close-fistedness, indeed. Wherein
does it consist?
Senator Beck has by no means Civ
en- up his intention of pushing his bill
to prohibit members ofCongress from
acting sattorneys for railroads which
have received Government aid, al
though his long silence had led some
of the railroad Senators to hope that
they would not again be confronted
by this bugbear. 1t is sore trial for
them to have to face this dreadful
measure, especially since they know
it is urged forward by a practically
unanimous public sentiment. The
debate on the Interstate Commerce
bill is being long drawn out in the
Senate as a shield to keep Mr.. Beck
off, but even it must come to an end
when all the speakers have made
their speeches for or against it.
1t seems that the Revenue Reform
question is really coming to the front
now, and that another effort will bt
made to reach those surplus millions
This time it will be by the interna
revenue men, Mr.. Randall and hi'
followers. They will advocate tina
the whole of the tobacco tax be re
moved, that the tax on alcohol useC
in the arts Demolished, and that frui
brandies be relieved of tax, but as Il
whether they will attempt any Tariff
alteration, no one can predict. TIL,
Members of Congress from tobacc,
producing states feel that it is a dut!
they owe their constituents to vot
for the repeal of the internal ia,
on tobacco in almost any shape tina
it might be presented.
These are exciting days for tn
Senators whose terms expire on tn
fourth of March, and there are man,
indications that the Senate will b
much changed after that time, bu
whether or not it will be improve
in character and ability is an ope
question. Senator Conger, of Mich
gan, who has been in public life TO
thirty-two years, is to be succeede
by Col. Stockbridge, because the la
ter is richer man. The long beart
ed Republican millionaire from NJ
vada, Mr.. w. NJ. Stewart, is comm
back for another term. No one OF
jects to him, however, as he was ratf
er lively man in the Senate, an
having apretentious lookingresidenC
here, takes a good deal of interest
the improvement Of Washingto
city.
1t is still doubtful who will q
Gen. Logan's place, but Pennsylvani
sends Mr.. Quay, a well known boz
andintriguer, instead of Mr.. Mitchell
and Minnesota sends eX-Governt
Davis, tariff reformer, a writer of
book on Shakespeare, and a so-calle
orator in place ofMr. Mcmillan. N
, braska is hesitating between a DEM
gogue and a magnate, and Californ
is still in doubt, asarealso New Yorl
Massachusetts,, Tennessee, and 9th
, states.
AS to the present condition of D
+ mocracy and what it is doing, Gle
Black, Commissioner of Pension
6 gives a picture in a recent letter
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